Vandals on the rampage

Vandals went on the rampage in Crieff’s MacRosty Park, destroying parts of a popular children’s trail the night before it was due to officially open.

Volunteers with community group Kids’Week in Crieff (KWIC) spent the whole day on Thursday putting new characters in place for the family activity, which will run throughout the summer holidays. But on the Friday night a gang of youths set about destroying it.

Walkers witnessing the damage called the police and tried to retrieve the wooden caricatures that had been tossed in the river.

KWIC chairperson Angela Baker said she could not understand why the youngsters would feel the need to be so destructive when the trail benefits the whole community.

She said:“You have to have a bit of a thick skin when organising such events but, no matter how thick your skin, you can’t help but take it personally for all the volunteers who have worked so hard to create the trail.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if it had been one or the whole 34 characters that had been damaged.

“We found three in the river – five had been ripped out.

“A lovely member of the public had gathered the ones that were in the ground and put them back and tried to clear up as best they could. But we’ve had to go round and secure them all.

“Others rescued the ones from the river for us. Some were damaged and have lost parts but we have repaired them as best we can.

“I would always find this mindless, but especially now during the pandemic when there are so many people helping each other. I just can’t understand why someone would feel it necessary to do this at all.

“One of the reasons for the trail is to get people out of doors again and benefit their mental health.”

Strathearn ward independent councillor Rhona Brock, who lives in Crieff, expressed her disappointment, especially in the wake of Sauchie Park being targeted last week when most of the play equipment was sprayed with graffiti.

She commented:“It’s so disappointing that in this time we are going through people are going out of their way to do this.

“It all costs time and money to give people pleasure and they are destroying it in minutes.

“They’ve been cooped up for so long. Parents can’t be there 24/7 and have to trust that their children will be doing what is right but obviously these youngsters aren’t.”

Others are concerned about the numbers of youths congregating, with some saying around 30 young people have been seen together in the park.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said:“Officers are investigating a report of a vandalism on Friday, July 3.”

In relation to the amount of youths gathering, they responded:“Officers will continue to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance and encourage compliance.

“We will use enforcement as a last resort only where there is a clear breach of the legislation.”